Rugby: Pollock returns from injury to pick up whistle

New Zealander Chris Pollock has been named in the 18-man referee team for next year's Super Rugby competition.

Pollock was sidelined by a hip injury during the latter part of the season, but has undergone surgery and has been given the all-clear to pick up the whistle again in 2013.

Sanzar's announcement today includes five referees new to the Super Rugby circuit, including Argentine Francisco Pastrana, who controlled his first Super Rugby match this year.

The team includes the Southern Hemisphere's top performers - Craig Joubert, Steve Walsh and Pollock.

"The recent form of some of our referees in the test environment has given us an excellent senior group within the team, and we have been able to include a healthy number of young referees," Sanzar game manager Lyndon Bray said.

"They have been selected with an eye to the future, both for Super Rugby and test rugby."

Along with the Argentine Pastrana, Australia's James Leckie has been recalled to the squad, while Rohan Hoffman (a former professional rugby player), Jason Jaftha from South Africa and Nick Briant from New Zealand will get their first taste of Super Rugby.